Birthday Kitschen: Tea and Tattoos

This year, I turned 32 years old. Ten years ago, 32 seemed so far away and so old. Now that I'm actually here, I ask myself where time went because I still feel like I did ten years ago, minus the drama and with the addition of an almost-7 year old daughter. The night before this was a different story, but on May 7, I wanted to have afternoon tea with my closest friends, so off to Manila Peninsula we went.

Special guest of the day was Buzz Lightyear. Earning his invitation rights by serving us sugar.

Their Earl Grey tea is really good. One sugar and a splash of milk. Heaven. Warning though, service is damn slow. I had to ask for our extra pots 3 times and it took almost 30 minutes for them to serve it.

The afternoon tea set is composed of a 3 tiered tray with a combination of sweet and savory bites.

mini quiches, little croissants with salmon and pastrami and pear sandwiches were the savories. My favorite was the pastrami one. So good.

Madeleines, fruit cake, custard with mango etc for the sweets. I think I had mostly savory stuff. I was nursing a hangover and needed real food!

There were scones, of course! Two per set and everyone went straight for them!

With the usual "scone-diments" clotted cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd.

My favorite girls Margaux, Sarah, Rachel, Vicky and Patricia, with the little princesses Kaya and Ananda.

And my favorite guys Abdul, My dad Jim, Banj and little Cameron.

Another surprise guest-- trying to steal our food!

Tea, scones and kicks... that's how we do.

Red Socks and leather shoes...something my boyfriend brought back from London....

Cameron flanked by girls...and asking for his beer.

Me and my <3

Erica is celebrating her birthday with tea, crumpets and dice on her neck--Margaux

Birthday kisses from the little girls.

Another year...Here we go!

Afternoon tea is available at Manila Peninsula Hotel everyday from 230-530pm Afternoon tea sets are P550++ and the tea buffet is P600++ Call them at 8872888 for reservations.

Kitschen Dreams: My top kitchen wants and desires

I figured since my birthday is coming up, I have the right to openly say what I want. Not expecting anything but it's nice to have dreams and wishes ;p

1. Paellera

Been needing (WANTING) one for a long time now and haven't had time to get one, or sadly even cook :( It's fairly cheap at Terry's for a small or medium sized one. Hint, hint. haha.

2. Hot Pink Kitchen Aid

I have my mom's old one (almost as old as me) It runs perfectly...but it's not hot pink! ;p

3. Cast Iron Pots and Pans

When I grow up, all my pots and pans will be cast-iron and Abdul will never have to wash dishes.

4. Vintage Tea Set

I bake cupcakes and cookies so I need cute things to put them on ;p

5. Picnic Basket

A proper one with plates and silver and cute fabric!

5. Hand Blender

For quick pureeing- for soups, smoothies, sauces and dips!

6. Food Processor

...and a bigger one for larger quantities!

7. Herb Garden

I would love to be able to pick everything I use from my own backyard.

8. A deep freezer filled with Wagyu

I love steak and might as well have the best...all the time. God, I could only wish.

9. and Toro

Ummm, same as above hehe

10. Outdoor oven

In the future.... :D

11. Chickens in my backyard

Not even kidding, I want fresh eggs all the time! But their house needs to look as cute as this :)

What do YOU want in your kitchen?

Kitschen Escape: I pick, you cook!

So, aside from never being to Kanin Club before a month ago, people are also surprised when I say I've never eaten at a "dampa" For those not in the country, a dampa is a place where you can basically pick out your fresh seafood then choose one of the surrounding booths or restaurants to cook it for you. It comes out cheaper because you are buying the seafood at market price...but then again you end up paying an extra 150-200 for them to cook it for you. Still cheaper than a restaurant that will charge you double the price though.

I was actually doing an ocular for a possible shoot, and ended up eating there. The question is...why have I never done so before? Silly, silly me.

Love that red orange color of the fish!

Lobsters are so pretty, and they aren't all looks. They taste good too ;p

One of my favorite things to eat- squid!

Sugpo--a new word I learned today. I thought all prawns were called hipon haha.

1/2 kilo prawns baked with cheese. I'm maarte, I don't like cheap processed cheese anymore and that's what they use for this. Prawns were nice and juicy though. I'd make this and use a bunch of deli cheeses ;p

1/2 kilo squid...fried and seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic and chili. This is my favorite anywhere, but it was particularly good here. I ate about a quarter kilo of this stuff. With garlic rice!

We also asked for grilled lapu lapu with lemon butter sauce. This is a 500 gram fish. Oh my god, my friend Gina and I were so full!

Outside they also have fruit stands. Saw some avocados. Love these mashed up with milk and sugar. Mochiko's avocado mochi is pretty bomb too!

Mangoes and one of my favorite fruits that for some reason I don't see around often enough- guyabano. i remember my mom freezing fresh guyabano so we could have shakes year round. So, sooooo good!

So...how do you choose which "Paluto" spot to go to? It's really up to you. In this particular one in Alabang, there were about 4 or 5 restaurants to choose from and Gina and I chose this one called "SIS" because these two ostentatious gheys caught our attention as they worked their PR skills at the door....and you know how much we love our gays ;p When we sat down to take our orders, we also realized that EVERYONE who worked in that restaurant was gay. Loves it!

Seaside Dampa is located along Daang Hari Road in Alabang

Restaurant Review: Pazzo

The Gourmet Kitschen lover (aka iamdeerhunter.blogspot.com) went on a week long trek to the mountains of Kalinga to meet the 90-something year old Fang-ud and get a traditional tattoo done. After 8 days of very little communication, and for 4 days none at all, I was starting to miss Mr. Deerhunter--a lot.

He told me all about the way of life over there and some of the stuff they ended up eating (Ant eggs anyone?) so I told him I'd get his stomach back to city speed and treat him to dinner. I hadn't eaten at Pazzo in awhile and he wanted pizza so off we went.

We started off with a really rich cheese fondue made with fontina and served with garlic and parmesan bread. This could have seriously been a meal on it's own. I love cheese fondue!

This was like an Italian version of salpicao made with bites of rib-eye steak and cooked in olive oil, garlic and rosemary. It was good, but could have been cooked a little better in my opinion. Taste wise though, me likey!

We originally were going to get the 5 cheese pizza but I'm kinda glad we forgot and ordered the garlic and anchovy instead. It would have been major cheese overload and for slightly lactose intolerant me, I don't think my lactaid would have stood a chance! The crust was nice and thin and light, tomato sauce tart and there was a good amount of cheese. I wish they spread out the anchovies a bit more because my tongue hurt from the pockets of saltiness after.

I suggest you don't get too full for gelato. I only had a taste but the Guyabano flavored one was SO BOMB!

For more about The Deerhunter's Kalinga trip, keep checking his blog because he took 9 rolls worth of photos and I'm sure he'll be posting numerous entries about it!

Pazzo is located at level P1 Powerplant Mall

Out of the Kitschen: Hippity Hoppy Easter!

For the second year in a row, Ananda and I spent Easter at the Mandarin Oriental. I love the whole candy buffet they had. I think I ate a million jellybeans last Sunday.

When I was a kid, I actually hated fairy bread. I couldn't stand the tie-dyed look of it. When I realized later on that it's just like regular bread, I started eating it. Now Ananda refuses to eat it. Ah well, she'll come around. These were filled with ham and cheese, tuna or egg.

What do I like more than cupcakes? Babycakes! Ironically, even if I love baking them, I can only take them (any sweets in general) in smaller doses. I may eat 5 babycakes-equivalent to more than one regular cupcake, but the idea of smaller bite sized ones appeal to me more.

I love gummy anything. Favorite color? White/Clear followed by red. I totally ignore the green ones.

More candy! More! More!

And of course, kiddie food staples french fries and chicken fingers!

Heard Mandarin is having a Thai Festival from May 2-15 at Paseo Uno. Yum Yum.

Out of the Kitschen: Just Kickin' it (Poolside)

As far as I'm concerned, unless I am going abroad, Holy Week was made for Stay-cations. I have experienced countless hours stuck in traffic and resorts filled to the brim with people during the long Holy Weekend that Manila actually seems like paradise during that time of year.

I decided to have a small pool party on Good Friday instead. It was a perfect mix of good food, drinks and great company that it ended up going on from 1-930pm! :)

It was a great day for a swim :)

Habanero Sausages w/ Pepperjack cheese and Bavarian Cheese Smokies

Yummmy with mustard

Japanese Meatballs c/o Tina and Tomo

Dukkah, oil and balsamic with focaccia

Grilled chicken and Mango salad c/o Hylton and Rae Le Roux

My favorite popcorn flavor. OMG!

My favorite little baby, Lucy! I want another one! (but not now;p)

What did you do/ eat this Holy Week?